Writing implement



Dec. 30, 1958 K. FEND WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 19, 1955 INVENTOR.

KMTT Fan d BY: WM SL iQd-Mm United rates Patent WRITING IMPLEMENT Kurt Feud, Pforzheim, Germany, assignor to Firma Gehr. Feud, Pforzheim, Baden, Germany Application September 19, 1955, Serial Na. 535,986 Claims priority," application Germany September 21, 1954 6 Claims. oi. 120 213 The present invention relates to writing implements of the type in which a. shiftable carrier of a writing means is advanced and retracted, and more particularly to an arrangement for supporting a shiftable carrier in the front end of thewriting implement whilethe-carrier and the Writing means are in operative writing position.

Mechanical pencils and ball point pens' are known in which the Writing means, namely,'the lead carrier, and the ball point carrier, respectively, are retracted ininoperative position and advanced to project out of the casing in operative writing position. The writing implements of this type according to the known art frequently have the drawback that the advanced carrier is not firmly supported in the bore in the front portion of the implement, but is loose which is highly undesirable. Particularly, writing implements of the type in which a plurality of selectively shifted carrier for writing means I are provided have this disadvantage.

It has been proposed to provide clamping means for holding the carrier in the front end portion of the implement, but the known-arrangements are-complicated and require a special construction of the front end of the implement resulting in-a bulky front end. The appear-- ance of the implement is also detrimentally affected, particularly since the clamping means projects out of the casing. M

It is one object of the present invention'to overcome the disadvantage's'of the known art, and to provide a writing implement in which the carrier of the writing means is firmly held in the front end portion of the easing when the carrier is advanced into writing position.

. It is another object ofthe present invention to firmlyhold the carrier of the writing means in the front end portion of the casing by means'which can be used with already manufactured writing implements.

It is a further object-of the present invention to support the carrier of the writing means in the front end portion of the casing in a manner which permits movement of-the carrier to a preliminary advanced position and thena slight retraction of the carrier to the normal writing position in which the carrier is still advanced as compared/with the fully retracted inoperative position.

With these objects in view,-the present invention mainly consists in a writing implement which comprises a hollow casing having; a front end part formed with -a bore and being at least partly bounded by an annular surface; at leastone carrier for writing means mounted in said casing formovernent between a retracted inoperative position, an advanced writing position, and a pre liminary advanced position located forwardly of said'advanced writing position, said carrier-projecting only in said advancedripositions through saidl'b'ore, said carrier defining in said advanced positions withTsaid annular surface an annular gap having a rear portion and a front portion; and wedging means resilient in direction of the. carrier movement and having a rear end secured to Ill and surrounding said carrier, said font end portion of said'wedging means projecting into said rear portion of said annular gap in said advanced positions of said carrier and being retracted from the same in said retracted I position of said carrier, one of saidlast-mentioned portions tapering in forward direction so that said front end portion of said'wedging means is wedged in said rear portion of said annular'gap in said advanced positions of said carrier for holding said carrier in saidlbore nonmovable in transverse directionsgwhile in said retracted position of said carrier, said front end position of said wedging means is released for longitudinal resilientfaction of said wedging means; 7

According to a preferred embodiment of the presentl invention, the resilient tubular wedging means isa coil spring. If the writing implement is of the type in which the carrier of the writing means is first advanced to a preliminary advanced position andv then retracted to normal writing position, the, coil spring is compressed in the; preliminary advanced position and expanded in the nor.-

teristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims/ The invention itself, however, both as. to its construction and itsm'ethodjof operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,. will be best understood fromthe following description of s a-,-

cifie embodiments when readin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. lis a side view, partly in section, of a writing plement according to the present invention shown-in a,

preliminary advanced position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view .of a writingimplement ac cording to the present invention shown in an-operative advanced position; x I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of, a detail of Fig. 1 shown on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of Fig. 2 shown on an enlarged scale.

- Referring now to the drawing, the writingimplement shown therein is illustrated to be of the type in which a plurality of carriers for writing means can be selectively advanced and retracted so that itis possible to write in different colors. r p v The casing l is formed with longitudinally extending slots 2, each slot guiding a manually operated member 3 which is connected to one'of the carriers 11. The im-' plement shown in the drawing has four carriers, .a'nd is clearly shown in Fig. 2, when one of the carriers 11': is

moved forwardly, the other carriers remain in; are? tracted inoperative position. An operating member 3 is secured to each carrier 11 and-moves in a slot in casing-1;

Each carrier 11 includes a cylindrical front end por tion 4, and a rearwardly located hollow portion 11a which is constricted at its rear end 11b. A'rod 12 passes through a bore into the hollow portion 11a and has at its forward end an abutment 12a. A spring 10 is said'car'rier and a'frontend portion non-resilient in'directions' transversev to said direction of carrier movement arranged between the abutment 12a and the rear end 11b of the hollow portion 11a. The rear end 12b of the rod 12 abuts against a transverse plate 1a fixed in the casing 1 so that the spring 10 tends to retract the carrier 11 from the advanced position in which one carrier vl1 is shown in Fig. 1, to an operative advanced position shown in Fig. 2 and to a retracted position located within the casing in which two other carriers 11 are shown in Fig. 2. The well known operatingmechanism is not Patented Dec 30, 8 1

illustrated in detail and is of the type in which the operated carrier is first advanced to a preliminary advanced position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and then slightly retracted, to an operative advanced writing position shown In Figs. 2 and 4 in which position the implement is ready for writing. The carriers 11 are operated by manually operated members 3,. and if any one of the carriers is moved into the preliminary advanced position shown in Fig. l, and the respective member 3 is released, the spring 10 retracts the. respective carrier into the writing position shown in Fig. 2 where the carrier is arrested in a known manner so as to be immovable in axial direction.

In the, illustrated embodiment of the present invention the arrested operative carrier is released when. any other carrier is advanced by advancing another member 3 associated therewith. When the previously operative carrier is thus released, it returns to retracted position under the action of the return spring 10.

The holding meahs for arresting a carrier in the writing positioninthedllustrated embodiment are described in detail inrnyprior U. S. Patent 2,136,290. The invention, however, is not limited for use in a multiple writ- .ing implement, but may be applied to any writing implement in which a carrier is arrested in'advanced writing position, and may be released after use for return into an inoperative, retracted position.

In the advanced positions shown in the drawing, the cylindrical end portion 4 of the carrier 11 projects through the bore 5 in the front end part 6 of the casing 1. The interior of the casing 1* is bounded at the front end of the casing 6 by a conical surface 9 which merges into the rearwardly located'portion of the bore 5 so that at least the rearwardly located annular surface 5a of the bore 5 is slightly conical and tapers toward the front end of the casingZ. The conical suface may extendto the front end, of ,bore 5. h

In accordance with thy-present invention, a resilient tubular ,means, shown to be a coil spring 7, surrounds a portion of thecylindrical carrier end portion 4. An abutment 8 is fixedly secured to the carrier ll, and engages the rearwardlylocated portion of the coil spring 7 which is freely movable on the cylindrical end portion 4. The rear end of the coil Spring 7 can be wound so tightly about carrier end portion 4. that it held-thereon for movement with the carrier 11, butitcan also be secured to the carrier inany suitable manner. For example, the rear end of the coil spring 7 can pass into a transverse bore in the endportion 4 located adjacent the abutment 8. 7 As is apparent from Fig. 2, the coil spring 7 is inoperative when the. carriers, areretracted. When a carrier 11 is advanced by operation of the gripsmember 3, the respective carrier 11 is first advanced into a preliminary advanced positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3 in which, the forwardly located annular wedging portion 7a of thecoil spring,7 projects into the annular gap 13 formed by the conical surface portion 5a and the cylindrical. surface of the carrier end portion 4. The coil spring 7 is compressed in this position so that its for wardly located end is wedged into the gap 13 which tapers toward the front, end of the casing.

Thereupon the carrier 11 is automatically retracted by spring to the operative advanced writing position shown in. Fig. 2 in which thewriting means 4a, such as a ball point or a lead, canbe used. Arresting means, for example as described -in my U. S. Patent 2,136,290 arrest thecarrier, in this position until another carrier 11 is adsvanced by operation, of its associated operating mem- Since the, forwardly located portion. 7a of the coil spring is wedged into the annular reduced gap13, and the rearwardly located portion 7b of the coil spring is secured to the. carrier 11, the coil spring 7 expands during'movement of the carrier from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In the advanced positionsshown in the drawing, and

' mitting a complete retraction of the carrier.

particularly in the advanced operative position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the foremost loop of the coil spring 7 is wedged in the annular gap formed between surface 5a and the carrier end portion 4 so that the carrier end portion 4 is firmly held in the bore 5 and cannot wobble during writing.

When the mechanism of the implement is operated, the carrier 11 is released to return under the action of the spring 14) into the retracted position in which the other carriers are shown. The force of spring 10 is greater than the wedging force holding spring 7 so that the forward portion of the spring 7 is pulled out of the gap per- Since the front end of spring 7 is now free, spring 7 contracts and remains contracted on theretracted carriers 11.

The invention has been described as applied in a writing implement in which a plurality of carriers is selectively operated. It will be understood that the present invention can be applied to a writing implement in which a single carrier is shifted between advanced and retracted positions.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of writing implements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a writingimplement including a coil spring wedgedinto the front end bore of the casing of the implement for rigidly holding a carrier for writing means, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing ,will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. i

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina writing implement, in combination, a hollow casing having a front end part formed with a bore and being at least partly bounded by an annular surface; at

least onecarrier for writing'means mounted in said casing for movement between aretracted inoperative position, an advanced writingjposition, and a preliminary advanced position located forwardlyof said advancedwriting position, said carrier projecting only in said advanced positions through said bore, said carrier defining in said advanced positions with said annular surface an annular gap having a rear portion; and, a front portion; and wedging means resiliet indirection of the carrier movement and having a rear end secured to said carrier and a front end portion non-resilient in directions transverse to'said direction of carrier'movementand surrounding said carrier, said front end portion of: said wedging means projecting into said rear portion of said annular gap in said advanced positions of said carrier and being retracted from the same in said retracted position of said carrier, one of said last-mentioned portions tapering in forward direction so that saidfront end portion of asid wedging means is wedged in said rear portion of said annular gap in said advanced positions ofsaid carrier for holding said carrier in said bore non-movable in transverse, directions while in said retracted position of said carrier; said front end portion of said wedging means'is released for longitudinal resilient action of said wedging means.

2. Ina writing implement, in combination, a hollow casing having a front end part formed' with abore and being at least partly bounded by an annular surface; at

least one carrier for writing means mounted in said casing for movement between a retracted inoperative position, an advanced writing position, and a preliminary advanced position located forwardly of said advanced writing position, said carrier projecting only in said advanced I positions through said bore, said carrier defining in said said advanced positions of said carrier and being retracted from the same in said retracted position of said carrier, one of said last-mentioned portions tapering in forward direction so that said front end portion of said wedging coil spring means is wedged in said rear portion of said annular gap in said advanced positions of said carrier for holding said carrier in said bore non-movable in transverse directions while in said retracted position of said carrier,-said front end portion of said wedging coil spring means is released for longitudinal resilient action of said wedging coil spring means.

3. In a writing implement, in combination, a hollow casing having a front end part formed with a bore and being at least partly bounded by an annular surface tapering toward the front end of said casing; at least one carrier for a writing means mounted in said casing for move--.

ment between a retracted inoperative position, an advanced writing position, and a preliminary advanced posi tion located forwardly of said advanced writing position, said carrier projecting only in said advanced positions through said bore, said carrier in said advanced positions defining with said annular surface an annular gap tapering toward the front end of said casing; and wedging means resilient in direction of the carrier movement and having a rear end secured to said carrier and a front end portion non-resilient in directions transverse to said direction of carrier movement surrounding said carrier and projecting into said annular tapering gap, saidfront end portion being wedged in said annular tapering gap in said advanced positions of said carrier for holding said carrier. in said bore non-movable in transverse directions while in said retracted position of said carrier, said front end por tion of said wedging means is released for longitudinai resilient action of said wedging means.

4. In a writing implement, incombination, a' hollow casing having a front end part formed with a bore and being at least partly bounded by an'annular surface tapering toward the front end of said casing; at least one carrier for a writing means mounted in said casing for movement between a retracted inoperative position, an advanced writing position, and a preliminary advanced position located forwardly of said advanced writing position, said carrier projecting only in said advanced positions through said bore, said carrier in said advanced positions defining with said annular surface an annular gap tapering toward the front end of said casing; and coil spring means resilient in direction of the carrier movement and having a rear end secured to said carrier and a front end portion non-resilient in directions transverse to said direction of carrier movement, said coil spring means surrounding said carrier with said front end portion projecting into said annular tapering gap, said front end portion being wedged in said annular tapering gap in said advanced positions of said carrier for holding said carrier in said bore non movable in transverse directions while in said retracted position of said carrier, said front end portion of said wedging coil spring means is released for longitudinal re-' silient action of said wedging coil spring means.

5. In a writing implement, in combination, a hollow casing having a front end part formed with a bore and being at least partly bounded by an annular surface taper-' ing toward the front end of said casing; at least'one carrier for a writing mean mounted in said casing for movement between a retracted position, an advanced writing position, and a preliminary advanced position located forwardly of said advanced writing position, said carrier in said advanced positions passing through said bore and'defining with said annular surface an annular gap tapering toward the front end of said'casing; means for moving said barrier between said positions and for-arresting said carrier in said advanced writing posit-ion; and tubular wedging means resilient in direction of the carrier movement 'and'h'aving a rear end secured .to said carrier and a front end portion non-resilient in directions transverse to said direction of carrier movement surrounding said carrier and projectinginto said annular tapering gap, said front end portion being wedged in said annular tapering gap in said advanced positions of said carrier for holding said carrier in said bore non-movable in transverse directions while in said retracted position of said carrier, said front end portion of said wedging means is released by longitudinal resilient action of said wedging means.

6. In a writing implement, in combination, a hollow casing having a front end part formed with a bore and being at least partly bounded by an annular surface tapering toward the front end of said casing; at least one carrier for a writing means mounted in said casing for movement between a retracted position, an advanced writing position, and a preliminary advanced position located forwardly of said advanced writing position, said carrier in said advanced positions passing through said bore and defining with said annular surface an annular gap tapering toward the front end of said casing; means for moving said carrier between said positions and for arresting said carrier in said advanced writing position; and coil spring means resilient in direction of the carrier movement and having a rear end secured to said carrier and a front end portion non-resilient in directions transverse to said direction of carrier movement, said coil spring means surrounding said carrier with said front end portion project-.

ing into said annular tapering gap, said front end portion References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Eagle Co. Sept. 15, 1908 1,729,786 Lindberg Oct. 1, 1929 2, 57,670 Colburn Nov. 3, 19 53 FOREIGN PATENTS 700,311 Germany Dec.,18, 1940 

